Equity Trader Erwee Botha’s shares continue to go through the roof. But in this instance we’re not talking the JSE, you understand. Rather, it’s his fast growing stature as a golfer at Randpark.
The former Central Gauteng provincial golfer has won the men’s Club Championships for what is believed to be a record sixth time following a gross round of 73 at Firethorn on Sunday and a 71 at Bushwillow on Saturday. That gave him a level-par 36-hole 144 aggregate to edge home by one from Connor Mackenzie who had rounds of 71 and 74 over the weekend.
However, there was drama at Firethorn’s tough, par-4 18th with the pink-shirted Erwee leading by three from playing partner Connor only to hit his drive into the trees on the left of the fairway just short of the river. He elected to hit a low fade to get as close to the putting surface as possible, and by the quality of the shot he should easily have found a favourable spot in two near the first tee leaving him an easy pitch for his third onto the 18th green. But his ball landed on the cart path and, unluckily for him, bouncing along, rolled back downhill all of 50 metres towards the river. Now he faced a very difficult wedge shot that needed to be hit high over trees. No room for error. Under the circumstances he did well to almost make the green but took three shots from there for a double-bogey six. Still, victory by one had been secured as Connor’s brave birdie putt from just over the green – which had it gone down would have levelled the scores – shaved the hole but refused to drop.
“I think the key over the weekend, besides keeping the ball in play, was my putting,” said Erwee who plays off a plus-1 handicap and whose brother Ruan is a Sunshine Tour professional. “I feel I didn’t hit the ball that well from tee to green but the greens are really quick and at Firethorn especially you had to hit your putts softly and carefully to avoid leaving yourself an awkward four of five-footer coming back to save par. I did that really well. Thinking back, I hardly missed a short putt all weekend. And, by the way, considering this is the worst time of the year weather-wise for maintaining golf courses, both Firethorn and Bushwillow are in fantastic condition. All credit to the greenkeepers.”
Erwee, who is also the current club champion at Leopard Creek so he’s now completed an impressive 2020 “double”, paid tribute to his eagle-eyed, long-time caddie Meshack ‘Junior’ Mochongwane who has loped at Randpark for 30 years and more. “Junior’s so good with the reads on the green and he’s helped me plenty over the years. He’s been on the bag for five of my six wins.”
A highlight of Erwee’s performance over the weekend was an eagle three at Bushwillow’s par-5 third hole where he hit a drive and a five iron to six feet and rolled in the putt.
A small gallery which followed the golfers included a few of Erwee’s buddies. He likes his Klippies and Coke, they said. So was that a bottle of Klippies and Coke he was sipping from on the tee at 16 at Firethorn? Surely not! Not by the quality of his big drive up the middle! It must have been an energy booster!
Connor Mackenzie, incidentally, graduated top of his class at Tuks with an honours degree in environmental science. So for him an academic career is a possibility but right now his heart is on becoming a professional golfer and earning his playing privileges for one of the major overseas tours. “This year, with the blessing and help of my parents and what lockdown has allowed, I’ve been playing golf full-time,” says the tall, big hitter who has contributed to the funds keeping him in golf by coaching cricket and rugby at Trinityhouse. Believe it Randpark, right here is one young guy to watch. He plays off a plus-2 handicap with a swing that could ultimately earn him big points in the game.
Kim Turgut, meanwhile, is Randpark’s women’s club champion. She won the coveted trophy with a score of 153 after rounds of 75 on day one at Firethorn and then a 78 at Bushwillow on Sunday. “This is my first win in the club champs so it’s very special,” said the talented 17-year-old who, like Erwee, plays off a plus-1 handicap. “Last year the club champs came down to the last green where I lost by one to Cara Ford. This year it was the other way round and I won by two from Cara and she finished second.”
Kim is in Grade 11 at Curro Aurora in Sundowner, and is doing extremely well academically. It won’t be surprising if she finishes school in 2021 with a string of distinctions in Matric. But right now she’s also earning distinctions in golf, has already represented Ladies Golf Gauteng at junior and senior level both at interprovincial and in the annual 72-hole championship, and a dream is heading for America on a college golf scholarship. Her best round has been a sizzling 68 at Pecanwood.
“I normally drive the ball nice and straight with a little draw,” she says. “And my chipping and putting is also strong. My score this club champs wasn’t my best – I struggled a bit on Bushwillow’s back nine – but at least I got over the line and it’s something to be proud of.”
Coached by Andre Louw at Eagle Canyon, she clearly has a bright future in the game. Super golfer, brainy girl! Kim’s got the best of both worlds in her armoury!
Written by Randpark member Grant Winter.
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